Cannibal Ox

Combining a staunch street persona and intelligent ghetto narratives with a freaky, abstract lyrical approach and icy, ominous production, New York City rap duo Cannibal Ox released one of the most heralded albums of the then burgeoning indie hip-hop scene, 2001's THE COLD VEIN. Raw and original, the album is a landmark in underground hip-hop--in part for being one of the first releases to feature the deft production hand (and financial backing) of Company Flow MC and Def Jux Records honcho El-P.